Walking the Walk Through Depression

It's tough in the Christian world to know the real implications, causes, and effects of depression. There's a stigma attached. Most of us believe there is more to this life than what we can see. There is an afterlife. Our spirit matter will continue to exist even beyond our physical experience here on Earth. For this reason it's important to get things right while we're here. Heaven is where we want to be, so committing an act of sin that could land us someplace else is not only defeating the purpose, but blatantly contradicting it altogether. Still, headlines are full of accounts of people who sit in pews and go to church regularly committing the unthinkable and taking their own lives largely due to overwhelming depression. Instead of recognizing it as sickness that needs to be delivered like any other, we see it as taboo and stay away from allowing anyone to feel or discuss it.

So, we pretend a lot. Every week we are with the same groups of families sitting by us, worshiping with us, praying with us, even reaching out and serving with us, and we never know whether or not they're hurting inside. Sunday is all about smiles and joy...on the surface, but I wonder how many in various congregations across the country really feel it...depression.

This is not the melancholy, woe is me for now sadness, but real, debilitating, painful hurt. Depression convinces you that everything is all wrong and that nothing can ever turn out right again. It tells you that the silver lining in the cloud is only there to give you some type of disease and that you should be worried about tomorrow because it will not take care of itself, it will be awful and so will every day beyond that. It makes it seem unnecessary to get out of bed, to engage friends and family, to reach out, to do anything since you feel so worthless and unimaginably useless. Depression is not a joke or something to shout, "Get over it!" It is a painful, hurtful illness that destroys and takes lives around us every day.

It's just a silent killer. No one wants to admit to it and if they do, they are often ostracized, especially in the church. This is when biblical truth and expectations clash with societal acceptance and norms. God's word tells us several things about this hurt.

1.) Jesus felt this type of hurt himself:

Matthew 26:36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed.  38 Then He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me."  39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will."  40 And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour?  41"Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."  42 He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done."  43 Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.  44 And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more.  45 Then He came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.  46"Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!"

If the God of the universe came here in the flesh and experienced this pain, we of all people should be understanding and compassionate about this frame of mind. In His example, the horror and anguish he must've known is unimaginable. He got through it by finding hope in His purpose and praying.

2.) Up to 92 verses in the Bible demonstrate God showing compassion or moving hearts to act with compassion, many times in response to deep sorrow. His response to our hurt is showing compassion. He responded with action. He rescued, He delivered, He healed, He fed, He taught. He did something. As His people we should be His disciples and react the same way. I've been a part of one church or another throughout my life and I can't count the number of times I've heard the "get over it" sermon. I challenge teachers and leaders to stop and consider this. It is appropriate in cases where someone is simply sad, but hugely out of place when a heart is desperately hurting with depression.

This is only a small illustration of how kingdom minded people who are not simply religious, but want to live an authentic life in Christ, can turn away from societal norms and embrace biblical standards. The next time you sense that someone is depressed and needs you, reach out to them. If a teenager is being harassed help them. If a single mom, or just any mom for that matter, appears to be overwhelmed or frustrated, offer to help. When you see someone hurting, don't let them stay that way without your compassion. Your hugs, your words of encouragement, your prayers can go a long way to helping them recover.